Stanford QB Andrew Luck completes a pass in the first half of the Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Stanford QB Andrew Luck completes a pass in the first half of the...

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Stanford celebrates the recovery of the Stanford Ax after their win over the Cal Bears 48-14 in the 113th Big Game, at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif, on Friday Nov. 19, 2010.
Ran on: 11-21-2010
The Axe, swarmed by a happy group from Stanford, is headed to Palo Alto for only the second time in nine years.
Ran on: 11-21-2010
The Axe, swarmed by a happy group from Stanford, is headed to Palo Alto for only the second time in nine years.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Stanford celebrates the recovery of the Stanford Ax after their win...

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Stanford's Andrew Luck runs for 58 yards in the first quarter of the Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Stanford's Andrew Luck runs for 58 yards in the first quarter of...

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Stanford's Stepfan Taylor steps into the end zone for a first quarter touchdown in the 113th Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Stanford's Stepfan Taylor steps into the end zone for a first...

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Stanford students and players celebrate the Cardinal's victory over California in the 113th Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Stanford students and players celebrate the Cardinal's victory over...

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A sea of red celebrates as the Stanford Cardinal beat the Cal Bears in the 113th Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

A sea of red celebrates as the Stanford Cardinal beat the Cal Bears...

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Stanford students and players celebrate the Cardinal's victory over California in the 113th Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Stanford students and players celebrate the Cardinal's victory over...

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Stanford students and players celebrate the Cardinal's victory over California in the 113th Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Stanford students and players celebrate the Cardinal's victory over...

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Stanford students and players celebrate the Cardinal's victory over California in the 113th Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Stanford students and players celebrate the Cardinal's victory over...

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Stanford students and players celebrate the Cardinal's victory over California in the 113th Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Stanford students and players celebrate the Cardinal's victory over...

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Stanford students and players celebrate the Cardinal's victory over California in the 113th Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Stanford students and players celebrate the Cardinal's victory over...

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Cal's Brock Mansion completes a pass late in the fourth quarter of the 113th Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Cal's Brock Mansion completes a pass late in the fourth quarter of...

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Cal's Brock Mansion is forced to leave the pocket in the third quarter of the Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Cal's Brock Mansion is forced to leave the pocket in the third...

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Cal's Brock Mansion is forced out of the pocket and throws an interception in the third quarter of the Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Cal's Brock Mansion is forced out of the pocket and throws an...

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Stanford's Richard Sherman steps in front of Cal's Alex Lagemann for an interception in the first quarter of the Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Stanford's Richard Sherman steps in front of Cal's Alex Lagemann...

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Stanford's Alex Loukas carries to the 1-yard line in the second quarter of the Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Stanford's Alex Loukas carries to the 1-yard line in the second...

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Stanford's Doug Baldwin catches a 47-yard pass from QB Andrew Luck between Cal's Brant Nnabuife and Sean Cattouse in second quarter action in the Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Stanford's Doug Baldwin catches a 47-yard pass from QB Andrew Luck...

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Stanford's Zach Ertz is helped to his feet after catching a touchdown pass from QB Andrew Luck in the Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Stanford's Zach Ertz is helped to his feet after catching a...

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The California Golden Bears run onto the Memorial Stadium field at UC Berkeley for the 113th Big Game against Stanford on Saturday.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

The California Golden Bears run onto the Memorial Stadium field at...

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Stanford's Doug Baldwin goes over Cal's Bryant Nnabuife for a second quarter touchdown in the Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Stanford's Doug Baldwin goes over Cal's Bryant Nnabuife for a...

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Stanford's Doug Balwin (89), with a long reception, is covered by the Bears' Sean Cattouse (11) and Bryant Nnabuife in the second quarter of the Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Stanford's Doug Balwin (89), with a long reception, is covered by...

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Stanford's Doug Balwin (89), with a long reception, is covered by the Bears' Sean Cattouse, (11) and Bryant Nnabuife in the second quarter of the Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Stanford's Doug Balwin (89), with a long reception, is covered by...

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Stanford's Michael Thomas (3) steps in front of Cal receiver Keenan Allen (21) for a second quarter interception in the Big Game at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Saturday.

The play that ignited Stanford to its largest offensive outburst in the Big Game's 113-year history was an ad-lib run by Andrew Luck when all his receivers were covered.

Fifty-eight yards later, Luck went down, having knocked safety Sean Cattouse over with his forearm on the way. The Cardinal, already up by a field goal, quickly took a 10-point lead after Luck's play and stormed to a 48-14 rout that wasn't really that close.

Spurred by a pep talk by Stanford great John Elway, the Cardinal got the Axe on Saturday for only the second time in the past nine years, and they did it with a vengeance.

The Bears, meanwhile, got a postgame scolding from Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh over a brief war of words that broke out after the coin toss, when both teams nearly converged at midfield at Memorial Stadium.

"The Cal guys did a lot of trash-talking before the game," he said. "Our guys really kept their cool, and I think that was a big difference today."

He added, "I don't like that kind of football where you talk and intimidate. It's not real. ... Shut up and play football."

In truth, players from both sides were woofing at each other. Shortly thereafter, though, Stanford (10-1, 7-1 Pac-10) had plenty to crow about. Luck completed 16 of 20 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns, and Cal absorbed its worst Big Game defeat since a 41-0 loss in 1930.

Luck was also the game's leading rusher with 72 yards. "He's amazing," said Stanford tailback Stepfan Taylor, who chipped in three touchdowns. "He's the greatest player I've ever seen."

The only good news for the Bears fans in the crowd of 67,793 was that, except for a brief sprinkling in the second quarter, the predicted rain held off until well after the game.

A week after their surprising throttling of Oregon's high-speed offense in a 15-13 loss, the Bears (5-6, 3-5) were unable to cope with Stanford's methodical attack. The Cardinal scored on their first eight possessions, with field goals bookending six touchdowns. They didn't punt until the final minutes.

The defense stymied quarterback Brock Mansion, making his third start after taking over for the injured Kevin Riley, and limited Shane Vereen to 63 yards rushing, a year after he piled up 193 in a 34-28 win at Stanford. Mansion fumbled the snap twice in the first three plays - Stanford recovered the second to set up a field goal - and threw two interceptions.

"We had him rattled from the beginning," outside linebacker Chase Thomas said. "He didn't want to be here today."

In its magical season, Stanford has scored 446 points and needs just 16 next week against Oregon State to break the school record of 461 it set last year.

With starting wide receiver Chris Owusu sidelined with an undisclosed injury, Luck again turned to Doug Baldwin as his main target. Baldwin went over defenders Bryant Nnabuife and Cattouse for a 48-yard catch in the second quarter.

"He wanted to make sure I caught the ball and nobody else did," said Baldwin, who had 97 yards on five catches.

The play set up a touchdown - on a 13-yard Luck pass to tight end Zach Ertz - but Baldwin had his own chance in the end zone just before halftime. He made a leaping catch over Nnabuife, playing in place of the injured Darian Hagan, for a 19-yard touchdown.

Luck said the victory made up for the interception he threw that clinched last year's Big Game defeat. "I did get a little extra motivation from that experience," he said.

On his long run, he said, "I didn't see (Cattouse) coming to hit me, but physics and inertia took over. Guys did a good job of blocking downfield. The O-line hustled their butts off. It was a good play to get things rolling."

The Cardinal, who kept their hopes for a BCS bowl alive, received another excellent performance from their defense. It surrendered two meaningless touchdowns in the fourth quarter, on a razzle-dazzle pass from wide receiver Keenan Allen to Marvin Jones and a pass from Mansion that Allen caught and pitched back to Isi Sofele with 15 seconds left.

In the last four games, Stanford has allowed just six touchdowns. On Saturday, it had a fumble recovery by Matt Masifilo, interceptions by Richard Sherman and Michael Thomas and a sack by Taylor Skaufel on a safety blitz.

"We thought if we stayed focused we could shut them out," linebacker Shayne Skov said. "They've been a great team at home (4-2), but this was the most energized we've played."

What a difference

Andrew Luck had his worst game of the season against Cal last year. That was not the case on Saturday: